UPDATED!HEY, YOU! YEAH, you! Apparently iTunes 7.5 and iPhone firmware 1.1.2 makes this work again! TUAW, just reported this. Combinations of past firmware and iTunes versions had caused problems, but the ability has returned. U.S. users are still waiting for 1.1.2 as I write this.THANKS!​

Not sure if someone has shared this, but like every other audio "distinction" in iTunes, "ringtones" are no different. They are AAC files with a special name. In this case, the extension is "M4R".

To add a ringtone to your iPhone, using Windows Explorer or the Finder just duplicate and rename any AAC file to be "M4R", then double-click on it. This file will be added to your iTunes library automatically.

Now, click on your iPhone in iTunes, and go to the ringtone section. You should now see your new ringtone. If you want to be sure about the sync, feel free to click "selected ringtones" and check off the file explicitly, though this shouldn't be required.

Now SYNC your phone. You're Done!

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This works on the PC, I'm still downloading the Mac version, but its the same principle. Sorry Ambrosia, Apple totally made your product iToner unnecessary as you gambled it might. Thanks for the week though. It was fun.

No, I really think its intentional. Molly Wood from the Buzz out load podcast was going OFF on Apple lately (so much I may have dropped them as a podcast), and I'm sitting back thinking... yeah, Apple doesn't really have a choice. Ringtones are considered a different "right", and they have to acquire and pay for those separately. But, once they put the provision into the system, there is NOTHING to stop you from creating your OWN ringtones and managing them through iTunes, just like you do with audiobooks. Makes sense. I don't think its going anywhere.

My assumption with iToner up to this point, was that Ambrosia had discovered the internal controls for allowing iTunes to sync ringtones using Applescript or something, and that they were doing this in the background. Whether or not this was true, I'd only starting thinking about a cross-platform implementation of these "hooks" I thought were there, when I thought to check my Windows filetype list, and there it was. I knew it'd have its own extension in iTunes.

There's NOTHING that says Apple can't allow users to take advantage of the hooks in their system, so long as Apple is responsible for them actually doing it. Nice job.

I think the thing that's never fully made sense to me is the explanation of why Apple can't "officially" offer this function for existing non-purchased tracks from your iTunes library. I understand their explanation about iTunes-purchased music (i.e. they do have to negotiate with the rights holders to sell songs to be used as ringtones), but there doesn't seem to be an explanation for why they can't let you make ringtones out of your other music (unless it is pressure from the labels, or even if just Apple wants to make more money from ringtones).

Definetely cool though if it's simply a matter of changing the file extension.

When you do this, does it use the whole file as a ringtone, or does it still have the stuff built into iTunes to let you choose a 30-second segment of the song to use as a ringtone?

I dig it and I don't have an iPhone. I did find it hilarious that it was supposed to be a good thing that you can't just use your very own MP3s as ringtones. Even that can happen on a cheap free phone half the time. But wait, there's more. Apple, as always adds a reason for deeming it necessary to pay for something that should be free. That is you can edit the ringtone yourself.
Well that was close...good thing there was an edit feature otherwise it'd be lame to have to pay.

I dig it and I don't have an iPhone. I did find it hilarious that it was supposed to be a good thing that you can't just use your very own MP3s as ringtones. Even that can happen on a cheap free phone half the time. But wait, there's more. Apple, as always adds a reason for deeming it necessary to pay for something that should be free. That is you can edit the ringtone yourself.
Well that was close...good thing there was an edit feature otherwise it'd be lame to have to pay.

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Did someone actually say it was supposed to be a good thing that you can't (or at least couldn't) use your own MP3s as ringtones?

I can also verify that this works. I took a .wav ringtone I used on my last phone and converted it to AAC via itunes. Then I renamed the the extension to .m4r. I do have to note at that point I did have to remove the file from my itunes library then reopen the file via the finder. Before I removed it, it would not show in the ringtones tab. After readding the file to the library, it showed in the tab and sinc'd fine.

I figured once apple added ringtone functionality it would be fairly easy to add you own. The ringtones have to be saved in someway that the phone and itunes can see the files.

I also have to add that I haven't tried any drm'd itunes music since I do not have any on my system. They may still be locked down somehow. Anybody tried one?

I think the thing that's never fully made sense to me is the explanation of why Apple can't "officially" offer this function for existing non-purchased tracks from your iTunes library. I understand their explanation about iTunes-purchased music (i.e. they do have to negotiate with the rights holders to sell songs to be used as ringtones), but there doesn't seem to be an explanation for why they can't let you make ringtones out of your other music (unless it is pressure from the labels, or even if just Apple wants to make more money from ringtones).

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Well, we don't know what the contracts with the music labels say. But do you really think Apple would offer a feature that wasn't available to their own customers? Imagine if you could use any song as a ringtone on your iPhone... EXCEPT those purchased from Apple? There would be an outcry for sure.

Staff Member

Ok - I changed the files to m4r and get the ringtones showing up in iTunes, but they do not appear on my ringtones list on the iphone after I sync. Anybody else have this problem?

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On the Mac

You have to make sure the actual extension is changed. The easiest way to make sure you are changing the extension is to use Command-I to "Get Info" on the file in Finder. Then change the extension in the "Name & Extension" field to "M4R". Finder may ask you if you are sure you want to change the extension. Once you double click, the file should show up in the Ringtone area in iTunes.

You gotta figure that Apple did this on purpose. They know people don't want to pay twice for the same song to use it as a ringtone, and they know people really don't want to pay to make a song that they've ripped from they're own CD into a ringtone.

This way they pay lip service to the labels by protecting their rights and by technically not allowing you to just use any song as a ringtone, but at the same time they leave the back door wide open.

This seems to be Apple's philosophy with a lot of new products, actually!

You have to make sure the actual extension is changed. The easiest way to make sure you are changing the extension is to use Command-I to "Get Info" on the file in Finder. Then change the extension in the "Name & Extension" field to "M4R". Finder may ask you if you are sure you want to change the extension. Once you double click, the file should show up in the Ringtone area in iTunes.

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I have changed the extension and the ringtone does show up in the ringtones area of iTunes. My problem is that they don't appear on the phone after I sync. Thanks for any suggestions anyone can offer... (also I'm on a PC).

Staff Member

I have changed the extension and the ringtone does show up in the ringtones area of iTunes. My problem is that they don't appear on the phone after I sync. Thanks for any suggestions anyone can offer... (also I'm on a PC).

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Sorry... I must have read too quickly. Sorry. it seems to work fine for me with ringtones appearing on the iPhone. Not sure what might be causing the discrepancy... obviously make sure you the Ringtone sync checkbox is checked off in iTunes.

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